Golfer&#39;s arm bend restraining device



Nov. 29, 1966 CUNNINGHAM 3,288,46fi

GOLFERS ARM BEND RESTRAINING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. ARTHUR RAYMOND CUNNENGHAM ATTOR NEYS v- 9, 1966 A. R. CUNNINGHAM 3,288,468

GOLFER'S ARM BEND RESTRAINING DEVICE Filed Aug. 19, 1963 2 Sheets-5heet 2 ooooloooo INVENTOR.

ARTHUR RAYMOND CUNNINGHAM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,288 468 GULFERS ARM BEND RESTRAINING DEVICE Arthur Raymond Cunningham, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Cunningham & Sons, a partnership Filed Aug. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 302,909 3 Claims. (Cl. 273189) This invention relates generally to an arm brace and refers more particularly to a device for keeping a golfers arm straight. A

One common failure among golfers is a tendency to bend the left arm during the back-swing. It is, therefore, an essential object of this invention to provide a device which can be readily applied to the arm and which when properly applied will resist bending of the arm at the elbow.

Another object is to provide a device which will embrace the arm across the elbow, and which is so designed that it will not interfere with normal circulation.

Another object is to provide a device which embraces the arm to resist bending of the elbow and which is interrupted at longitudinally spaced points so that at no place along the length of the device is the arm encircled throughout a full 360. As a result, normal circulation in the arm is not disturbed.

Another object is to provide an elongated device adapted to be secured to and embrace a golfers arm across the elbow, which device is relatively stiff to resist bending of the arm and comprises a plurality of segments of limited circumferential extent so that no place along the length of the device is the arm encircled throughout a full 360.

Another object is to provide a device for resisting bend ing of a golfers arm comprising an elongated spring stiffening unit and means for securing the unit on the side of the arm across the elbow.

Another object is to provide a device comprising a pair of elongated spring stiffening units with means for securing the units to the arm so that they are respectively on the inner and outer sides thereof, across theelbow.

Another object is to provide a device wherein the elongated spring stiffening units are secured to the arm by flexible segments, a first one of which connects the upper ends of the stiffening units and is adapted to extend over the front of the upper arm, a second one of the segments connects the lower ends of the stiffening units and is adapted to extend over the front of the lower arm, and a third one of the segments connects the mid-portions of the stiffening units and is adapted to extend over the back of the elbow.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein the flexible segments are connected to one another.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view of the outer side of the device embodying my invention, the device being shown laid out flat.

FIGURE 2 is an edge view of the device shown in FIG- URE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of the device shown applied to the arm of a person.

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but trates a modification.

FIGURE 5 is an edge view of the device shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side elevation showing the device of FIGURES 4 and 5 applied to the arm of :a person. The device is in a released condition so that a considerable amount of bending of the arm is permitted.

illus- FIGURE 7 is similar to FIGURE 6, but shows the device in operative position resisting bending of the arm at the elbow.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and especially to FIGURES 1-3, the device there shown is generally indicated at 10 and includes the layer or sheet of flexible material 12 having the outline shown in FIG- URE 1. The sheet 12 may be of any suitable material such as leather or fabric, for example. The device 10 also includes the spring stiffening units 14.

The sheet 12 may be considered as :made up of three integral segments. The first or upper segment is that portion of the sheet above the edges 16 in FIGURE 1. This upper segment is generally designated 18 and is notched out centrally at 20. The edge 22 defining a part of the notch extends on a line with the edges 16. The parts 24 and 26 of the segment 18 are adapted to wrap about the upper arm of a person and to be releasably connected together -by the strap or belt 28 on the part 26 and the buckle 30 on the part 24. The belt 28 is permanently secured as by stitching to the outer surface of the part 26 of segment 18 and has a plurality of longitudinally spaced holes 32. The buckle is permanently secured to the part 24 of the segment and has the usual frame 34 and tongue 36. The belt extends through the frame and the tongue enters one of the holes in the belt to releasably secure the parts of the segment 18 around the upper arm.

The portion of the sheet beneath the edges 38 makes up a second or lower segment designated 40 which is adapted to extend around or embrace the lower arm of a person. The lower segment 40 is centrally notched at 42, and the edge 44 of the notch is on a line with the edges 38. The segment 40 is composed of the two parts 46 and 48. An elongated strap or .belt 28, similar to the one attached to the part 26 of segment 18, is permanently secured to the part 48 of segment 40. A buckle 30. similar to the one secured to the part 24 of segment 18, is permanently secured to the part 46 of segment 40. When the parts 46 and 48 of the segment are wrapped around the lower arm of a person, the belt 28 and buckle 30 may *be employed to releasably secure the parts together.

The central portion of the sheet 12, that is the portion between the edges 16 and 38, may be considered the third or intermediate segment of the sheet and is designated 50.

A pad of soft resilient material such as rubber, desig nated 52, is secured to the inner side of the sheet. This pad covers the entire middle segment 50, and most of the segments 18 and 40. All of the segments 18 and 40, except those portions to the left of the dotted line 54 in FIGURE 1, are covered by the pad 52.

The spring stiffening units 14 are identical and each is formed from a single length of spring wire stock. As shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, the units 14 are parallel and in laterally spaced relation to one another. Each unit is secured to the outer surface of the sheet 12 by a rivet 55 and a covering strip 56. The strips 56 may be secured to the sheet 12 by any suitable means such as stitching. Referring further to the construction of the spring stiffening units, they each have a generally U- shaped upper section 62, a generally U-shaped lower section 64, and an intermediate looped section 66. The rivets pass through the strips 56 and the sheet 12 inside the loops of thesprings. The spring stock of units 14 is flexible and will yield although it is rather stiff so as to prevent ordinary bending of the arm.

The strips 56 cover only the upper sections and loops of the spring units 14. Clasps 63 permanently secured to the parts 46 and 48 of lower segment 40 are adapted to be releasably connected to the lower sections 64 of the spring units.

In use, the device 10 is strapped onto the arm by 3 belts 28 and buckles 30 as shown in FIGURE 3 where the arm of a person is generally 70, and is shown in dotted lines. The front of the elbow is indicated at 72. The device extends across the elbow, and the upper segment 18 is strapped about the upper arm, that is above the elbow. The portions of the segment 18 are connected together by the belt and buckle as shown, the belt and buckle extending across the front of the upper arm. The segment 40 embraces the lower arm, that is beneath the elbow, and the belt and buckle extend across the front of the lower arm. The middle segment 50 extends across the elbow at the back of the arm. The spring units 14 extend along the inner and outer sides of the arm across the elbow. The clasps 63 are connected to the spring units 14 as shown.

Any tendency of the arm to bend from the substantially straight position shown in FIGURE 3 is resisted by the spring wire units 14. Of course, if sufficient force is applied, the spring units will yield and the person can bend his arm slightly. However, the springs tend to prevent the normal tendency of a golfer to bend his arm from a substantially straight condition when executing a back-swing. Between strokes, the clasps 63 can be released from the lower sections of the spring units so that the wearer will have more freedom to bend his arm.

It will be noted that at no place along the length of the device is the arm embraced throughout a full 360. The upper segment 18, that is the portion of the sheet above the edges 16, is interrupted by the notch 20. The lower segment 40, that is the portion of the sheet below the edges 38, is interrupted by the notch 42. The intermediate segment 50 obviously does not go entirely around the arm. The notches 20 and 42, when the device is applied, are at the back of the arm, and the front of the elbow between the upper and lower segments is open as will be readily apparent in FIGURES 1 and 3. According, the circulation through the are is not significantly affected by the device.

Where increased resistance to bending of the arm is desired, the lower portions 64 of the spring units may initially be deformed to the positions shown in dotted lines in FIGURE 1. Then when the clasps 63 are connected to the lower deformed ends, there will be an increased pressure maintained at the elbow tending to keep the arm straight.

Reference is now made to FIGURES 4-7 in which a modification of the invention is shown. The device is generally indicated at 100 and includes the layer or sheet of flexible material 112. The sheet 112 may, like the sheet 12 in the first embodiment, be made of any suitable material such as leather or fabric, for example. The device 100 also includes the spring stiffening units 114.

The sheet 112 is made of the integral segments 118, 140 and 150. A pad 152 of rubber or like material is secured to the inner surface of the segment 150. The extent of the middle segment 150 may be considered as that portion of the sheet 112 between the upper and lower edges 153 of the pad 152. The portions of the sheet respectively above and below the pad 152 make up the segments 118 and 140, respectively. The sheet 112 is cut out or notched centrally as indicated at 120 and 142. The parts 124 and 126 of the upper segment 118 are adapted to wrap about the upper arm of a person and to be releasably connected together by the strap or belt 128 permanently secured to the part 126 and the buckle 130 permanently secured to the part 124. The belt and buckle 128 and 130 are exactly like the belt and buckle 28 and 30 in the first embodiment. The parts 148 and 146 of the lower segment 140 respectively have the belts and buckles '128 and 130 secured thereto as shown. These parts 146 and 148 are adapted to wrap about the lower arm of a person and to be releasably connected together by the belt 128 and buckle 130.

The spring stiffening units 114 are identical and are exactly like the stiffening units 14 shown in the first embodiment. As shown, the units 114 are parallel and in laterally spaced relation to one another. Each unit 114 is secured to the outer surface of the sheet 112 by a rivet 155 and a covering strip 156. The strips 156 may be secured to the sheet 112 by any suitable means such as by stitching. The stiffening units 114 each have a generally U-shaped upper section 162, a generally U- shaped lower section 164, and an intermediate looped section 166. The rivets 155 pass through the strips 156 and the sheet 112 inside the loops of the springs.

The strips 156 cover only the loop sections 166 of the spring stiffening units and a short length of each of the upper and lower sections 162 and 164 thereof. Clasps 163, exactly like the clasps 63 previously described, are permanently secured to the parts 124 and 126 of the upper segment and to the parts 146 and 148 of the lower segment, and are adapted to be releasably connected to the upper and lower sections of the spring units.

In use, the device is strapped on to the arm by the belts 128 and buckles as shown in FIGURES 6 and 7, where the arm of a person is generally designated 170 and is shown in dotted lines. The front of the elbow is indicated at 172. As was true with the first embodiment, the device 100 extends across the elbow and the upper segment 118 is strapped about the upper arm. The lower segment is strapped about the lower arm. The belts and buckles of both segments extend across the front of the upper arm, and the middle segment extends across the elbow at the back of the arm. The spring units 114 extend along the inner and outer sides of the arm across the elbow.

During the execution of a back-swing, the upper and lower clasps 163 will each be connected to their adjacent springs as shown in FIGURE 7, to resist bending of the arm. However, when walking between shots, the user may release the lower clasps 163, as shown in FIGURE 6, to enable more freedom of the arm to bend. It will be apparent also that the upper clasps 1.63 may also be released from the spring units, and for the same reason.

As was true with the first embodiment, there is no place along the length of the device where the arm is encircled throughout a complete 360. Obviously, the center segment 150 does not embrace the front of the arm, and the upper and lower segments 118 and 140 do not embrace the back portion of the arm where the notches 120 and 142 provide interruptions.

As was true in the first embodiment, the lower ends of the spring units 114 can initially be bent somewhat toward one another when the device is laid out flat, to provide increased resistance to bending.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A device for resisting bending of a golfers arm comprising a pair of elongated wire spring stiffening units each long enough to extend across the elbow lengthwise of the arm, means for securing said units to the arm so that they are respectively on the inner and outer sides of the arm and extend above and below the elbow, said means including flexible material composed of an upper segment, a middle segment connected to said upper segment and a lower segment connected to said middle segment, the upper segment extending from the upper ends of the stiffening units across the front of the arm above the elbow when the device is in use, the lower segment extending from the lower ends of the stiffening units across the front of the arm below the elbow when the device is in use, the middle segment being disposed between the upper and lower segments and extending between the stiffening units across the back of the elbow when the device is in use, said upper segment having ends provided with a buckle for releasably securing said ends together, buckles engaging the upper ends of said stiffening units for releasably securing the upper ends of said stiffening units to said upper segment, said lower segment having ends provided with a buckle for releasably secur- 5 ing the latter ends together, buckles engaging the lower ends of said stiffening units for releasably securing the lower ends of said stiffening units to said lower segment, and means securing said stiffening units to said middle segment.

2. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said flexible material is so formed as to expose the back of the arm above and below the elbow when the device is in use, and said flexible material is so formed as to expose the front of the elbow when the device is in use.

3. A device for resisting bending of a golfers arm comprising a pair of elongated spring stiffening units each long enough to extend across the elbow lengthwise of the arm, means for securing said units to the arm so that they are respectively on the inner and outer sides of the arm and extend above and below the elbow, said means including flexible material composed of an upper segment, a middle segment connected to said upper segment and a lower segment connected to said middle segment, the upper segment extending from the upper ends of the stiffening units across the front of the arm above the elbow when the device is in use, the lower segment extending from the lower ends of the stiffening sages units across the front of the arm below the elbow when the device is in use, the middle segment being disposed between the upper and lower segments and extending between the stiffening units across the back of the elbow when the device is in use, said upper segment having ends provided with means for releasably securing said ends together, said lower segment having ends provided with means for releasably securing the latter ends together, means engaging the lower ends of said stiffening units for releasably securing the lower ends of said stiffening units to said lower segment, and means securing said stiffening units to said middle segment.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 801,901 10/1905 Norwood 128-87 1,414,012 4/1922 Flint 273-189 2,468,580 4/1949 Weis et al. 273-189 3,196,870 7/1965 Sprecher et al 12887 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner.

G. J. MARLO, Assistant Examiner. 

3. A DEVICE FOR RESISTING BENDING OF A GOLFER''S ARM COMPRISING A PAIR OF ELONGATED SPRING STIFFENING UNITS EACH LONG ENOUGH TO EXTEND ACROSS THE ELBOW LENGTHWISE OF THE ARM, MEANS FOR SECURING SAID UNITS TO THE ARM SO THAT THEY ARE RESPECTIVELY ON THE INNER AND OUTER SIDES OF THE ARM AND EXTEND ABOVE AND BELOW THE ELBOW, SAID MEANS INCLUDING FLEXIBLE MATERIAL COMPOSED OF AN UPPER SEGMENT, A MIDDLE SEGMENT CONNECTED TO SAID UPPER SEGMENT AND LOWER SEGMENT CONNECTED TO SAID MIDDLE SEGMENT, THE UPPER SEGMENT EXTENDING FROM THE UPPER ENDS OF THE STIFFENING UNITS ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE ARM ABOVE THE ELBOW WHEN THE DEVICE IS IN USE, THE LOWER SEGMENT EXTENDING FROM THE LOWER ENDS OF THE STIFFENING UNITS ACROSS THE FRONT OF THE ARM BELOW THE ELBOW WHEN THE DEVICE IS IN USE, THE MIDDLE SEGMENT BEING DISPOSED BETWEEN THE UPPER AND LOWER SEGMENTS AND EXTENDING BETWEEN THE STIFFENING UNITS ACROSS THE BACK OF THE ELBOW WHEN THE DEVICE IS IN USE, SAID UPPER SEGMENT HAVING ENDS PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING SAID ENDS TOGETHER, SAID LOWER SEGMENT HAVING ENDS PROVIDED WITH MEANS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE LATTER ENDS TOGETHER, MEANS ENGAGING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID STIFFENING UNITS FOR RELEASABLY SECURING THE LOWER ENDS OF SAID STIFFENING UNITS TO SAID LOWER SEGMENT, AND MEANS SECURING SAID STIFFENING UNITS TO SAID MIDDLE SEGMENT. 